... demonstrated for the first time some metaphors "work" by activating psychological processes conducive for generating previously unknown and therefore creative ideas.

People who acted out the metaphor displayed more convergent thinking, a component of creativity that requires bringing together many possible answers to settle on one that will work. Other experiments found that walking freely generated more original ideas than walking in a set line; another found truth in "on the hand; on the other hand." All this suggests that there's something to the metaphors we use to talk about creativity. "Having a leisurely walk outdoors or freely pacing around may help us break our mindset,"...